28 December 2013

Fry the Bacon in Butter

That's how DiDi started the most delicious twist yet on her traditional Christmas Eve clam chowder last night. (And I just had a second bowl for breakfast.) Why clam chowder on Christmas Eve? I think it had to do with DiDi's father always doing all his shopping at the last minute and her mother wanting a meal that could be kept warm to serve whenever he showed up. Nice of her, eh?

(This was written on my phone very early Christmas morning, but I'm only just now getting a chance to finish it and add photos, thus the confusing time references...)

(This is actually a here we go random, by the way, I just couldn't resist that title.)

I love being up before everyone else on Christmas morning. I do wish it wasn't because I've finally caught the virus that Mr. P has been sneezing in my face for a week, but there it is.

Speaking of Mr. P, he liked his handmade gift yesterday, too, although his enthusiasm is always fairly short-lived, especially at Christmas when he thinks something better might turn up at any moment. (Several days later note: he has taped the holder for Harry, Ron, and Hermione to his special box of new Lego minifigures. I take this to mean they are as important to him as the minifigures, which is a serious endorsement.)

Monday night, we kept the children up way too late on a boat. This was one of those ideas that sounded potentially great and potentially terrible and I'm grateful it turned out much more great than terrible. The boat was part of the official Christmas Boat Parade finale night, a hilarious and lovely Seattle Christmas tradition in which several official boats, led by one with a live choir, toodle around Lake Washington, giving concerts to people on shore at predetermined spots. Lots of unofficial boats (even kayaks!!!) light themselves up and follow along.

Our boat even had a Santa on board, which Shmoogie instantly recognized as her best chance to make sure her list was definitely seen by the guy who really matters. I don't know if she doesn't trust that I put her letter in the mail weeks ago (true confession that will surprise no one: I didn't) or if she just figures in-person delivery is the safest option, but she handed me a paper (from the kids' craft table) and a crayon and dictated:

"Dear Santa, I would love a remote-control helicopter. May I please have a wind up toy? May I please have tatoos of flowers? Daffodils, roses, red roses..."

The flower tatoo list (a gift she had already gotten from DiDi and PaPa, actually) got cut short when she saw Santa coming her way. She took the letter from me and politely cornered him.

(She's getting remote-control amphibious cars with a note from Santa explaining that he thought a long time about the helicopters, but worried they might get lost in the lake and he hopes these will be lots of fun for her and her brother to play with instead.)

Addendum today: Mr. P had a very very Lego Christmas, which made him very very happy. Various adults have spent various hours building various exciting things with him and today I didn't even get out of my pajamas until 4 pm, having spent most of the day jumping back and forth between building a truly amazing pirate ship and doing a few math practice sheets!

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I have to say that Santa looks very impressive. I would have shared my list with him as well. The boat ride looks truly glorious. Was it difficult to get a ticket for such an event? We used to have very Lego Christmases here as well. I still give the boys some silly puzzle just to keep their brains agile. :)
Sounds like a lovely Christmas was had by all!